Megan's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Facts are Facts"

I'm just givin' my opinion with a rhythm and a clever rhyme

I wonder how many times I believe what someone says only because of the way they say it. Maybe they put their opinion in the middle of a believable story, and so I accept it all as truth. Maybe they just state their opinion in such an eloquent way that I find no reason to question it. Maybe this opinion is coming from someone who I trust, and I take it as fact instead of opinion.

While I think it is important to have faith in people and not question everything they say, I have also found the importance of questioning some things. If I just accept everything at face value, when someone challenges my view, I have no backup reasoning for why I support this particular view. Questioning things allows me to grow, to understand why I believe what I believe, and it gives me the ability to defend my beliefs.

Chris' prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Facts Are Facts"

I don't want these words to sound
Like I think I've got it all figured out

When I was younger, I used to say that Rich Mullins' song "Creed" echoed my sentiments about my faith. "I did not make it. No, it is making me" was a line that I felt described who I was. In the midst of seemingly everyone who was journeying spiritually, I felt blessed to have faith that did not waiver, that was not questioned.

But now, I'm completely at the other end of the spectrum. I question everything. I have very few things figured out, and most of my beliefs are subject to change at any moment. Rather than feeling confident that I know the truth, I find myself constantly searching for that truth. And I'm happier for it.


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Catie's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Facts Are Facts"

and God can be found

This week, my life has been going absolutely crazy. Or at least to me it has seemed that way. Actually, not so much crazy, more like having a million things to do, having people get on my back about stuff and I'm just not sure what I need to do to make them happy. However, in the midst of all of this, God can be found. I went wondering around last night to try to clear my head and ended up sitting in front of a Marian grotto. I sat there for a while just looking at the statue of Mary, wanting her peace. After sitting there for a while, I gained a little peace of mind, so I got up and walked around some more and found myself looking up at a crucifix. There's this quote that really hit me hard when I was looking up at it. It is something along the lines of "Let us fix our eyes on the crucifix in every difficult moment, and that gaze will renew or strength." I was able to draw strength last night from Christ's strength and in that, I found God and in that found the peace of Christ.

Chris' prayer: David Crowder Band's "Undignified"

I love this song. It is such a great praise song. There is so much energy in the beat and instruments that it causes me to jump up and down when I hear it. Awesome. The thing I love most is the paradox contained in the title. Usually when I think of worshiping God, I don't think of "undignified" as an appropriate response. Being undignified means that I will show a lack of a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect. It seems like it would be appropriate to be composed and serious and show respect when I worship, but Crowder is asking me to do something different.

He is asking me to be wild and crazy, impassioned, enthusiastic, unapologetic, and determined. Nothing, Lord, is hindering this passion in my soul. It is such a great call to action.


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Megan's prayer: David Crowder Band's "Undignified"

This past weekend I jumped into a freezing cold lake while on retreat. A yearly tradition that I was excited to once again take part in.

Some may says it's foolishness.

Maybe jumping into a cold lake isn't smart. Maybe it leaves me more susceptible to become sick or something like that. There is a chance that my parents, other Core members, maybe even some of the teens think that it was foolish to do this.

I'm okay with being a bit foolish. I didn't jump in cause I had some intense desire to swim at that particular moment. I jumped in to share that moment with the teens, to share in something a bit crazy. It was a great time. It gives us a shared moment.

I hope that these shared moments continue to happen. I hope to grow closer to the teens. I hope to be able to share both fun and foolish experiences with them as well as serious experiences. I hope that sharing these things with them can help draw both me and the teens closer to God.

Catie's prayer: David Crowder Band's "Undignified"

It's all for You my Lord!

I try to live my life in this way. That is, in such a way that everything that I do is for the honor and glory of God. However, it doesn't always work that way- the things of this world distract me. Other things sometimes look better than what God have to offer. However ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is better than what God has to offer each of us. Even though something else might look more appealing, nothing can substitute living our lives completely for our Maker.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

You turned my mourning into dancing

In just one week, it will have been 7 years since my mom passed away unexpectedly. I remember receiving the phone call while I was at work. I remember riding a bus all night to get back home. I remember my entire family in ruins.

And I remember proceeding into her funeral Mass behind the casket. As I did, I looked around and I saw my family and my friends and a bunch of people I didn't even know, all who had come together to pay respects to the wonderful lady my mother was. And I remember smiling during that procession and almost dancing into church that day. For my mother, I had no doubt, would be reunited with her Maker soon and how happy I was to know that.

This is where God's real power lies- His ability to turn mourning into dancing.


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Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

The music found at St. Cletus’ noon mass each Sunday is simply wonderful. The music found at each monthly Encounters is amazing. These times finally give me the chance to satisfy my desire, my thoughts of “Oh, I just want to sing your praise.”

I can’t imagine the joy and gratification that comes from a job such as a music minister or a youth minister. Each and every day, as a requirement for their position, they are doing God’s work. Music ministers get to constantly sing God’s praise.

I hope that when I finally grow up and get a real job that I will be able to experience that joy each day. I hope I am blessed with a position that allows me to share that joy with others. It doesn’t have to specifically be a job within the Chruch or ministry, but I hope that I can turn any ordinary job into a chance to show God’s love. To somehow sing his praises each and every day.

Catie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands

Last week I was in El Salvador building better houses for a few people who live there. Overall it was an absolutely amazing experience. The last full day we were there, we visited two communities children's centers. The first one we visited, we played with the kids all morning. I have yet to see God as present in people as I did in those kids on Friday morning. I constantly saw Christ present in the people down there all week, but Friday it really hit me. They were all just so excited we were there and so excited to spend time with us. The community that we visited in the afternoon was so welcoming. We didn't get to talk to them much, there was a brief presentation of the history of the children's center, then we did the stations of the cross with them. They were so welcoming and so excited to see us which is something rare here in the states. They didn't know any of us but they loved us just the same. But this is how it is suppose to be. We are suppose to appreciate and love and care for each other no matter what. We are to sing in joyful praise to God for the people he has placed in our lives, because the smallest thing, could be seen as the biggest blessing.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Being in Love with You"

I've been keeping a secret. It is even something that I haven't fully admitted to myself. I'm still coming to grips with it.

I am having such a hard time with Life Teen right now. I'm wondering if it might be time for me to be done. And that thought scares me so much. I remember how scared I was to join the youth ministry program, and this fear is right up there. It is just that I feel like I'm doing so much, and trying to take on even more, and I'm left unfilled by it all. I just feel empty.

Even so, I told one of the kids tonight, "Just spend this weekend being loved. Let everything else go." And then this song comes along. Sometimes I need to be reminded of the things I tell others. With everything going on this weekend, I need to spend time just being in love with God and forget about evrything else.

I pray I'm able to do that.

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Being in Love With You"

We leave for retreat in about 3 hours. I'm still not ready. I'm excited for retreat, but I'm so worried that something isn't going to go right, that me and Andy's session won't turn out right... and then I listened to this song.

I don't need to try to be
The flawless example
...
All I need to do is just be me
Being in love with you

If I'm enough for God, that's all that matters. If he loves me just as I am, there is no reason to worry about not being good enough.

Finally, I think I'm ready for this retreat.

Megan's prayer: Matt Maher's "Ressurection Day"

Tonight I watched "Sister Act" on TV. I loved watching this movie when I was young, and nothing has changed. One of my favorite parts of the whole movie is when the teens, or young adults, who are standing on the street, hear the music coming out of the Church, and decide to go inside to see what is going on.

The excitement in the song, the joy coming from the choir, brought them into the Church, brought them back to Jesus.

Great things can happen when we sing for joy.

Chris' prayer: Matt Maher's "Resurrection Day"

I recently finished the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I'm a big fan of Gladwell's, so I had to pick this book up, his newest release. Overall, the book is about the subtle opportunities and choices that make someone or something outstanding.

In one of the chapters, Gladwell talks about how language and culture affect the airline industry, and in particular, how pilots communicate with their copilots and ground control. He uses this lens to explain a crash that occured several years ago in New York. In relaying information about fuel to to the ground control, the copilot does not communicate urgency and panic at all. Rather, the tone of his voice downplays the perilous situation they are in and accepts the instructions from the ground crew, who have no idea that this plane does not have enough fuel to comply.

Sometimes, the tone of one's voice can mean everything. It can tell us when a friend is having a bad day, even though their words might suggest otherwise. It can also, as illustrated in Outliers, be vital to correctly pass along a message.

The tone of this song is absolutely perfect for its message. It is the perfect exclamation point to what we are waiting for this Lenten season. The words and the tone come together to show the excitement that Easter holds for us this, and every, year.

We sing for joy, we shout your name
We celebrate your resurrection day

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Megan's prayer: Kutless' "Treason"

With my two lips I will praise your name
Then I turn around and only curse and blame

I struggled with this song tonight. At first I thought it was because I was unable to connect with the lyrics and understand what the song meant, but I finally realized that I knew all too well what the song meant, and I just didn't want to admit it.

Chris' prayer: Kutless' "Treason"

I can't say that I was terribly familiar with this song before tonight. I'd heard it before when my iPod was on shuffle, but, if I was paying attention to what I was listening to, I always hit the skip button. And if I wasn't paying attention, well, then I wasn't paying attention to the lyrics at all.

And the lyrics I find so fascinating and so poignant. The lyrics describe exactly what sinning is for a Christian: treason. A betrayal of something that we know to be true. At least, that's what it feels like when I sin. It feels exactly like this:

I give you my life then I run in haste
I swear I'm back but then it turns out it's only a season
…
With my two lips I will praise your name
Then I turn around and only curse and blame

Fortunately for me, fortunately for us, this line reminds of the truth which we know to be true:

Your blood it covered all my sin
You changed a traitor into kin

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Chris' prayer: Casting Crowns' "What if His People Prayed"

I'll be the first to admit, I don't pray as often as I should. Also, if I'm being honest, I don't pray as sincerely or as deeply as I should when I do pray. This song calls out to me, asking what would happen if I actually prayed as sincerely, deeply, and often as I should. The thing is, I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in all the things the song says could happen if I, as one of His people, prayed. And yet, I don't.

I was hoping that this Lent would be a time to get my act together and really focus and make strides in my faith. But then I run into weeks like last week, where suddenly it is Saturday, and I'm wondering where the week has gone. It seems like there is always something that I let keep me from doing the things I know I need to do to deepen my faith. "Hopefully, Lent will help." Or, "Hopefully, the Easter season will help." Or, "Once Easter passes and things settle down, then I'll be able to focus."

If only.


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Megan's prayer: Casting Crowns' "What if His People Prayed"

There never seems to be enough time to do all of the things that I want. In my personal activities, in church activities, in my school activities, I always feel that I could be, and should be, doing more. In today’s song, it sounds like I’m not the only one who should be doing more.

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords?

What if the church, for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate?

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth?

What if his people prayed?

I fail to understand why these things are happening. Why are God’s “armies” doing so little that their swords are dusty? Why is the Church not seen as stepping up to the plate? Why are we pursuing a life that is not based in truth? Why are we not focused on the power of prayer? I feel like we should be doing more. I will try to do more.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Famous Last Words"

Famous last words.

The other night, I was playing a game with my girlfriend and a couple friends of hers, and the question came up: "What would you like your famous last words to be?" Usually the phrase famous last words is used tongue-in-cheek, meant as a joke. Appropriately, I answered the question as a joke.

But I sincerely hope that my famous last words are something meaningful. I hope that the last thing that I'm able to share with others as I pass from this life, whenever that may be, is something that affects those who heard it. I hope it means something to them. Similarly, I hope that the famous last words of my actions aren't a joke. I hope that I'm able to make an impact on those I meet and leave them knowing that they were loved by me.

I hope my famous last words are words of love.


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Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Famous Last Words"

Up until about 10 months ago, I had never thought about living by myself. I always thought I would have roommates during college and then move back home afterwards until I found others to live with or got married. But then things changed, and I took a very scary step in my life, and I moved into an apartment by myself. And I love it.

I’m able to eat dinner when I want, watch the TV shows that I want, play music whenever I feel like dancing, do my homework in peace, and go to bed at any time.

Today’s song pointed out something a bit different to me.

When loneliness is such a sanctuary
Empty are the musings and wasted are the days

Living by myself does not teach me how to compromise, how to get along with others. I no longer get to enjoy the random thoughts and stories that my roommates would always share. Even something inside of me is being lost. I no longer have the perpetual opportunity of sharing my wisdom or my love with those who live with me, and maybe it just becomes wasted because I live alone.

While I’m most likely not going to give up my apartment because of one song, I will start working on not allowing my loneliness to become a sanctuary.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Famous Last Words"

You were only waiting

This kind of irony seems to sprinkle life, or at least, I can think of examples in my own. Especially in my faith life. When I ask God for something, obviously He provides, but sometimes I find myself getting so wrapped up in what I hope/want/think the outcome should/could/would be that I forget to keep my eyes open for what it is. My plan for my life is very different from God's for me. I'm completely okay with that, all I need is for Him to take charge of my life and show me where to go and how to get there. I feel like I would think that I could see God walking out on me when really He is just waiting for me to catch up so He can take me somewhere better. It reminds me of the footprints in the sand poem. My prayer is to always recognize what God has in store for me and to be open to the ideas that He comes up with (i hear they are usually right :-P)

happy [john] 3.16 everyone! i guess even Jesus felt like God walked out on Him sometimes, when He cried out "Father, why have you abandoned me?"...but even there God had it all worked out already.